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Evolution of Bank Routing Numbers

Have you ever wondered what that 9 figure number is in the bottom left hand side of your bank notes? Plenty of people have this question. As a matter of fact, about 50,000 people search for routing number related terms in search engine listings every month.

The routing number is also described as a transit number or ABA number. It is comprised of a 9 figure code and it is utilized in the United States of America. The individual design of this number is to determine the depository financial institution or financial organization from which the cash referred to on the cheque is to be withdrawn.

With so many banking companies in existence nowadays, this number is very helpful to the depository financial institution taking a deposition of a check in determining where they need to get the money. It was at one time a difficult undertaking to determine where bank checks were written from. In fact, this difficulty has historically been exploited by criminals to commit fraud against banks.

Therefore, this numerical system was formulated to streamline and clarify the procedure for clearing houses and for banks. This has helped in the reliable transferal of money between banks on behalf of their clients for years now.

This system has even been developed. The serialized number makes it easier for computers to understand and apply the information and as recently as 2004 it has been used to transmit electronic bank checks also known as echecks or EFTs (electronic funds transfer). This started out with the passage of the Check 21 Act which has helped to reduce the reliance on paper bank checks by making it allowable to make digital copies of bank checks.

This handy number system dates all the way back to 1910 when the American Bankers Association (ABA) organised it to help interbank relations. It has been used ever since to help the banking industry to work smoothly.

Can you envisage trying to keep track of over 26 thousand different banking companies that issue bank checks? As a banker you would be overcome with work trying to determine where to get your money! This is precisely the problem that the ABA has successfully helped to solve since 1910.

About 26,895 routing numbers are actively put to use in the United States of America today. This is because every financial organization must have one by law. That means that every depository financial institution is required to have an ABA number assigned to them before they open their doors.

The cheque routing number is an important development in the story of banking. It has served to improve the efficiency of banks. It has assisted in improving the security of banks. It has even helped improve the manner in which we transfer money around the net.